Cambria had been tempted to correct Marsha on the spot. It had never been a charade at all. But she’d kept quiet instead. Because at this point, that’s exactly what their once-joyful engagement had been reduced to: one giant charade. Canyon Byer, the man she once planned to marry, was nothing more than Cambria’s fake fiancé.
Rather than leaving once their meeting was through, Marsha had asked if she could stay and say hello to the family members and friends she’d met on the evening Canyon showed up on her porch. Out of obligation, Cambria had told her she could join them for dinner if she’d like, but the woman declined. Cambria had hoped her relief wasn’t obvious, but the truth was, any connection to Find My Fiancé was still just too painful.
Marsha did, however, join the group for coffee as they arrived with hors d’oeuvres, side dishes, and desserts. Cambria had almost made Rain’s chicken dish tonight for dinner, but she wasn’t up for the kind of memories that night dredged up.
You did the right thing, Cambria.
And she had. Raylene was in need of help, and Canyon hadn’t been willing to listen.
“Well, you have yourself a good holiday now, ya hear?” Victor boomed as he walked Marsha to the door. The man was in a generous mood it seemed, his kindness extending all the way to the likes of Marsha Langston.
Marsha smoothed her hands over her shiny black hair, angled herself toward the door, and then paused. “Oh, I almost forgot. I have a video clip I was supposed to show you.”
The group quieted, each looking to Cambria in turn.
A massive clump of dread crashed into the center of her chest. She couldn’t be serious. It was Christmas Eve for crying out loud.
Panic tightened her throat as she considered gaining even one new detail related to Canyon. “I don’t think I can handle watching any videos right now,” Cambria said. “Please. I’m just too…” She never had liked using the word fragile to describe herself. Not after what she’d lived through. “It’s still too raw, you know? I don’t even think I’ve formed scabs over all these wounds yet. I feel like I’m bleeding still. All the time.” Cambria didn’t like being so vulnerable, but this was her safe place. Her safe people, and they needed to know just how deep her loss was. She wouldn’t sugarcoat it for them.
Tears gathered in Marsha’s green eyes as she searched Cambria’s face. “You really do love him, don’t you?”
Cambria covered the quiver of her chin.
“Then you really need to see this, dear. Trust me.” She motioned to the sofa.
Cambria looked at Vickie and Victor. Each offered an encouraging nod. Mae and Leah came in from either side, sandwiching her on the couch. Her aunt and uncle came up behind her, each resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Leah picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV, which all felt very normal until Cambria considered it. How did Leah know to turn on the TV? What did she think would appear? And how? Nobody had pulled up any links or videos.
But then Canyon’s beautiful face suddenly appeared on the screen. “You know what I don’t get?” he asked.
Cambria’s brow furrowed as he looked expectantly at the camera. “Stan,” he said, “I’m asking you something. You’re supposed to prod here like Cambria does so I can give you my deep thought.”
“Is that right?” the man said, his voice low. “Then what? What don’t you get?”
“I don’t get how a guy could be stupid enough to lose the best thing of his whole life twice.”
“You can say that again,” Stan mumbled behind the lens.
Canyon shot him a look. “Hey, that wasn’t nice. Tina,” he said, turning slightly to the right. Suddenly the camera angle changed.
“You’re right,” Tina said. “You were a real idiot to let go of that girl twice. Now what are you going to do about it?”
He squared a look at the camera. “This.” The screen went blank. The room turned still. And suddenly a knock came to the door.
In one sense it was deja vu. Cambria knew exactly who was on the other side of that door. But this time, the dread was gone. She came to her feet, smoothed a hand down the front of her shirt, and let out a shaky breath as she made her way to the door.
Leah and Mae gave her back pats. Vicky snatched her hand long enough to give it a squeeze. And Victor gave her a triumphant-looking grin with a thumbs-up.
“There won’t be any cameras filming this,” Marsha said. “This moment is yours and his alone.”
“And all of ours,” mumbled Victor.
Hope swelled so high in her chest Cambria felt as if she might float right off the floor. She patted her hair to remind herself how she’d styled it for the day.
“You look beautiful,” Vickie assured from behind.
Cambria reached for the knob, gave it a twist, and pulled open the door. There, looking front-page-worthy in a tux, stood Canyon Byer, a bouquet of her favorite flowers in one fist.
His eyes met hers, and already, Cambria felt healing in her heart. Just having him close was like a covering for her wounds. But the idea that he wanted to be close made all the difference.
“Tina and Stan were right. I was wrong to push you away. I was an idiot to assume and storm off without even giving you a chance to explain. I’m sorry for that. I can’t believe I was trying to deny that my mom’s addiction had come back. That I got upset by the way you swooped in and rescued her and Rain.” He shook his head and sniffed. “And I can’t believe I doubted your love for me, when you’re the one who showed me how deep love really goes.”
Cambria placed a hand over her chest as the truth of that radiated clear through her soul. Oh, how she loved him. He felt the same, she knew it, and she couldn’t wait to celebrate it.
Canyon dropped down to one knee. “I love you, Cambria. And I want—more than anything in this entire world—to marry you. Please say you’ll give me another chance.”
Cambria nodded as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “Of course I will, Canyon.” She grinned as he came to his feet, wrapped his arms behind her back, and hoisted her off the floor in one wonderful, heart-healing embrace.
“I love you,” she whispered against his skin before kissing him on the cheek. She basked in the warmth of him as a choir of squeals sounded from behind. Cambria was positive that one had even come from Marsha. The woman was the first to greet the couple as they turned to the group.
“I knew you two were meant to be together,” Marsha said. “I just knew it.” She shook both of their hands in turn, nodded a farewell to the other guests, and made for the door. “I’ve got to get to my boyfriend now,” she said. “We’re heading to Hawaii for Christmas.”
Cambria lifted a brow, surprised that the famously private producer had shared such details. “Actually, he’s my fiancé,” she admitted. “And we’re getting married tomorrow.” She brought a finger to her lips. “Mums the word.”
“Congratulations,” Canyon said. The sentiment was echoed throughout the group as Marsha grinned.
“Thank you. Oh, and don’t forget,” she added, looking over one shoulder before she left. “The show has recording rights to your wedding.”
The door closed, and the group burst into laughter and cheers.
“Hey, Cambria,” a familiar voice came. Cambria turned around to see Leah holding a phone with Rain and Raylene on the screen.
Leah handed the phone over to Cambria and Canyon. “Congratulations, you two. We were watching the whole thing.”
“Oh, my goodness, I’m so glad,” Cambria said. She noticed a red vinyl booth behind the duo as enlightenment flashed through her. “Are you guys at Nelly’s diner down the street?”
“We sure are,” Raylene said. “I got special permission to attend a Christmas Eve dinner with my future daughter-in-law and her family. I hope that’s okay.”
“And me too,” Rain said.
“Are you kidding? That’s wonderful!”
Victor shrugged into his coat and planted a kiss on Vickie’s forehead. “Heading out to
get them now.” He kissed Cambria’s forehead next. “I’m real happy for you, hon. This guy must really be something special for you to love him like you do.”
She grinned and looked over at Canyon as he leaned down to pet her cat, Gremlin. The fickle feline broke into a loud purr.
“He is,” Cambria assured.
Canyon dusted his hands off and came to a stand. Gremlin rubbed his face and body against his legs, back and forth.
“You know what I don’t get?” she asked as Canyon moved his attention back to Cambria with a smile.
“What’s that?” He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzled into the nook of her neck and pressed a kiss there.
“I don’t get how my cat can hate me and nearly everyone else on the planet and then suddenly take a liking to you.”
Canyon tipped his head as he looked at her. “C’mon, you really don’t get it? Didn’t you tell Rain I was irresistible once?”
Boy, was he ever. Goosebumps spread over her arms as he took a nibble of her earlobe, sending a thrilling pulse through her body. “Rain wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”
“Yeah, but it’s a good thing she did. I’m needy.”
She laughed. “You’re needy?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I need all the encouragement I can get.”
Cambria chuckled. “Yeah, right. I’m going to have to check with your mom on that one.”
Vickie, Leah, and Mae scurried throughout the kitchen, taking care of the side dishes they’d brought for the Christmas Eve dinner. Vickie had already added the extra settings at the table.
With his arms wrapped around her, Canyon urged Cambria to join him by the pantry. He pulled back to look in her eyes. “My mom’s doing amazing so far. And I wanted to tell you thank you, for doing what needed to be done, despite my stubborn ways.”
Cambria smiled, leaned in until he was a breath’s space away, and kissed him on the mouth. “You would have done the same for me. We’re going to make sure she’s better in time for the wedding.”
“Perfect. So by tomorrow?”
She gave him a playful slap. “We do need to pick a wedding date. We just can’t make it for tomorrow.”
“That’s okay,” Canyon said. “As long as I have you in my life, I’ll be one happy man.”
And she’d be a happy woman. A thought occurred to her as she nuzzled her cheek into his chest and sighed. “One day, in Christmas Future, we’ll be pulling up to a huge table filled with friends and family and children of our own, and one of our kids will ask us to retell the tale of our love story.”
Canyon chuckled under his breath. “You’re right.” He pressed a kiss to her head and tightened his grip on her. “I can’t wait. I’m so glad you’re going to be part of my future. I promise to make it everything you’ve dreamt of. For now, we get to enjoy Christmas Present.”
“Yes,” Cambria agreed. And with Canyon by her side, what a gift it would be!
Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Her TV Bachelor Fake Fiancé. As a reader myself, I dive into novels seeking an enjoyable getaway from the daily grind – I hope this story provided that for you! If you enjoyed the book, I could really use (and would sincerely appreciate) your rating and or review on Amazon or Goodreads.
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About the Author
Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!
Kimberly has always been a fan of good, clean romance, so she decided to specialize in writing 'Romance That's Clean without Losing the Steam'. She's a fervent lover of God, family, and cheese platters, as well as the ultimate hater of laundry. Follow her on any of the sites below for updates on new releases and or giveaways.
     
     
Her TV Bachelor Fake Fiancé: Christmas Romance Series Page 14